Chanson's 2010 Nuits Saint Georges is all finesse.  The aromatics are layered, striking an excellent balance between sweet red fruit, savory cigar, cinnamon spice, and lavender.  The mouthfeel is striking, with acid and tannic structure in harmony.  This wine calls for some additional time in the wine fridge, and a bite of something that quacks or oinks.

I jest... this is a proper and well made Syrah.  The wine is layared, with cherry, plum, and vanilla in the forefront.  There is impressive depth here, with a rich round mouth-feel, really nice (and unexpected) minerality, and a evocative finish.  A bit heavy on the alcohol, but enjoyable never-the-less.

Lots of Cherry Cola, eucalyptus, and toasty oak with just a hint of black pepper.  Huge and mouth-coating with a thin mid-palate and substantial body.  Not my favorite, but fans of Santa Barbara Syrah may want to give this a go.

Really loving the red-fruit profile of this Cab. The aromatics are perfume-y, cranberry, kirsch liquor, musk, and new leather.  On the palate the wine is really juicy and round with firm tannins and a gorgeous finish.  This one will be quite lovely in 5 years, but is eminently drinkable.

Really loving the red-fruit profile of this Cab. The aromatics are perfume-y, cranberry, kirsch liquor, musk, and new leather.  On the palate the wine is really juicy and round with firm tannins and a gorgeous finish.  This one will be quite lovely in 5 years, but is eminently drinkable.

Yum!  This is really rich and round with depth and precision.  A perfect pair with Thai Green Curry or really stinky cheese.

Green apple and lemon-lime aromatics with a pleasant chalky minerality.  The bubbles are fine and quite refreshing. Highly recommended at the price.

I enjoyed the fruit profile of this, sour cherry and red raspberry with hints at leather, cedar, and clove.  The wine is well made, however lacks a bit of the fragrant integrity I really love in a rosso. 

Loved the nose, really different... Super smokey nose - like forest fire smokey.  Cherry and bright Raspberry are rich and ripe on the palate.  Finishes with a smokey caramel note.

This is one of the first of the 2010s to hit out floor, although its not the first I've tasted.  At a trade tasting earlier this year we tasted about 40 CDPs from the 10 vintage and I was hooked.  Extremely fine structure, with plenty of fruit, but not that super-ripe fruit style of 09.  Needless to say, this one really stood out.  

Wow!  Deep Raspberry and Blackberry fruit, with lavender and clove aromatics.  Super fleshy, rich and round on the palate.   A bright beam of acidity and minerality finishing with cocoa and caramel tones.  90/10 Grenache/Mourvedre.

Cherry and Peppercorn, hmmmmmm... makes me want steak a poire.  Raspberry, blackberry fruit character with dusty tannings and bright acidity.  Another great wine from Guigal.

This wine hits every check mark for me.  It has intriguing aromatics - high toned cherry, smoke, jerky, teriyaki,  peppercorn, with defined structure and a finish that sails on.  It has that sense of place I'm always looking for and it's relatively affordable... In other words - I'm Sold.

I was sincerely impressed by the sort of old school style of this one.  Kirsch liquer, raspberry, mushroom and leather aromatics with great intensity. 

Focused dark berry and licorice aromatics with a plump mouth-feel and juicy acidity.  Perfect for the dinner table.

Not bad Mr Phelps. I liked the varietally correct nose of raspberry and cola.  Plenty of acid with a super rich mouthfeel.  The only reason I didn't give it 4 stars is it feels a little hot on the entry.

When we opened this, I was expecting a lesser version of the Private Reserve Cab... all fleshy and sweet oak.  What I got was a bit rustic and rugged, with really gorgeous red/black fruit contrasting nicely with spicy oak and medium body. Almost like I was expecting Matt Damon in a glass and got a mouthfull of Alec Baldwin.  Awesome Surprise.  At 30 bucks this is a great value.

Some industry-types think this is the kiss-of-death, especially for an inexpensive import, for us - music to our ears.  89 points means less extraction and less oak - very friendly for the dinner table. If you're a Cab fan - do yourself a favor and grab a bottle of this while it's on sale - it's got similar weight and presence and won't break the bank.

There is an un-deniable "Yum" factor with Conundrum and there always has been.  It's best friends with Thai food, Indian food, pretty much buddies with anything spicy.  Is it the most complex wine?  Ok, no.  But it's perfect as it is.  Aromatically pleasing and off-dry with bright acidity. 

I've always liked Sinskey.  I like the people involved, I like the attention to farming principles, I even like the sheep.  The 2008 POV is really bright, with red plum, raspberry, corriander, and a hint of tomato leaf.  The palate is lifted, with plenty of acidity and a nice balance between fruit/oak/tannin.  A little warm, but overall really pretty.

Huge.  I mean, huge press, huge wine... I guess you could call this a Cabernet drinker's Nebbiolo.  Lots of extraction and 14.5% alcohol.  The wine is well made, it just has no resemblance to Barolo I know and love.

I came across this wine at a recent event, Mr. Volk was there pouring his own wines.  This wine smells like a summer garden, lots of really pretty floral aromas with focused minerality and crisp acidity. 

We have a great Cabernet selection.  We offer Cab in a variety of styles - lush and fruit forward, rich and muscular, elegant with lots of finesse... the Antica Cabernet falls in the latter category.  Really gorgeous aromatics with excellent depth and length.  This is the finest Antica Cabernet I've had yet.

Lemon-lime apple aromatics with charming minerality and a delicate bead. A really wonderful value.

We've stocked the Bruciato for a number of vintages, and the 2009 has the same elegance and refinement I've always enjoyed, only this time around the wine has more deep luscious fruit character.  The Yum force is strong with this one.  Nice structure too, so I see real versatility at the table.  At $24 bucks I think this is one of the best blends we have currently available.

Pretty high-toned fruit with cedar, mocha, and although I can't find any winmaker notes, I would guess that this has a bit of cab franc in the mix. I think this is a nice value for napa valley cabernet.

The aromatics for this are dessert-y for me. Mascerated plum and cherry with lots of vanilla bean. Very mellow, with a Barry White kind of smoothness. For the price I'm impressed, as I always am with the H3 line

The nose is malty, with clove and coriander aromatics. Rich and creamy mouth-feel... I know I should sip, but this one is just so darn delicious!  

I don't drink much domestic Chardonnay, but I've got to say, the Karia Chardonnay from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars really surprised me. It is pleasantly balanced, not too much new wood, not too much butter. It has a subtlety that I rarely find in this category.   

I was sold on Tamarack's Firehouse Red when I found out that they blend this wine before blending their high end Sagemoor and DuBrul blends.  Most of the time, a vintner will select, blend and bottle the best juice first, and make a value-driven blend with the leftovers.  I love the  sort-of  inverse concept Tamarack has here. The proof is the pudding with this one... there is a play between the finesse and structure that Sagemoor and DuBrul are known for. This wine has ripe appealing fruit, elegant structure, with everything in balance. 

I was jazzed when I tasted the 2010 lineup with Anne Moses.  The wines are structured and elegant.  There is a vibrant beam of minerality that is common to all of the wines.  The Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is really gorgeous now, and in a year or so this will be truly outstanding.

Lifted Raspberry Sour Cherry aromas are rather forward with just a hint of baking spice.  On the palate the wine is juicy with ripe acidity and medium to full body.  Makes me crave oven roasted chicken and root vegetables.

Honeysuckle and lemon zest with bright acidity and a crisp finish.  This makes me crave a Waldorf Salad.  Yum.

I was so impressed by this with a swirl and a sniff.  Bright raspberry, plum, baking spices, with a just a hint of green herbs. It is rich and weighty, without being overdone.  This will pair well with a variety of grilled meats. Mmmmm. Grilled meat.

Outstanding! Floral and complex with lots of spice. Love it with mediterranian food.

This is such a beauty. Impressive intensity, length and elegance. Plenty of plump ripe fruit, bacon fat goodness, spice, with ripe acid and silky tannins.  This a great value at 60 bucks!

With a swirl, sniff, a sip I'm in love.  Lemon-ey, oily, bright minerality, and crisp acidity... layered and intriguing.  

The nose is a bit muted, with some cherry and tar coming through. It's a bit hot (to be expected I suppose), but the acid seems a bit out of whack. Not the best I've had, but also not the worst. 

Bright and warm with aromas of cherry, cola, forest floor and smoke.  Pretty and round, with bright acidity and an impressive finish.  

The nose is really compelling, with layers of boysenberry, anise, raisin, and just a hint of the dirt the vines grew in.  The wine in HUGE on the palate, with acid, tannin, and fruit a little out of whack, however it should come together nicely in a year or two. 

Whew, This is like Broc Lesner Hammer-fisting my tongue! The nose is pretty, layered, and subdued... but man this wine changes the game on the palate.  This is a great wine for you all that love that big, rich, in your face Syrah.

Mmmmmmm! Strawberry, lemon tart, and lots of yeasty goodness. Plenty of acid and a fine bead make this a good match with a variety of fare.

Lots of really pretty cranberry and sweet tobacco aromas with just a hint of smoke.  Sort of "textbook" Oregon Pinot Noir from a warm vintage.  For the price this is really lovely, great balance, nice structure, and a nice high-toned fruit character. 

Definitely in the New World style... this Barolo has a really pretty macerated cherry - lavender - anise bouquet.  It's a little warm at 14.5%, but has good structure and is actually approachable in its youth.

This is a really full-throttle version of Nebbiolo... it's really purfumey, with tons of extraction.  It may be a good starting point for wine-lovers that haven't had much Barolo or Barbaresco.  It's got an almost candied fruit profile, and lots of richness on the palate.  The price is reasonable, so I think this works well for some.

Lots of secondary aromatics here.  Very earthy, with mushroom, leather, and undernotes of cherry and clove. Bright acid and a round mid-palate with a tart finish.  

Oh Delicious Blueberry... This is a killer wine for the price.  Great structure with elegant fruit.

I'm always in the market for great values, and this one hits every mark.  The 2009 Punch is sourced primarily from Mount Veeder (I Heart cool climate Cab), and has wonderful aromatics and really great structure.  It drinks like a $40-$50 Napa Cab, so it's a real steal.

One sniff and I'm hooked.  Really perfumed aromas of raspberry, lavender, tabacco, and wet stone.  The mouthfeel is intense and wonderfully acidic. This is SUCH a beauty.  

Really lovely aromas of gooseberry, peach, stone, and hay.  The palate is wonderfully round, with crisp acidity and gooseberry following through to the lingering finish.  Yum!

Really pretty aromatics - fig, sour cherry, tar, and mocha.  The mouthfeel is round and juicy, with a bright beam of acidity that makes me crave a triple cream cheese.

I love this macon because it's balanced, well defined, and round. Chardonnay can be a ploarizing varietal, but i think you would have a hard time dis-liking this little beauty. It has plenty of waxy, stony minerality... and plenty of green apple-orange zest fruit character.  Its really rich  on the palate from the elevage. At 25 bucks this is easy to love.

Terredora's 05 Taurasi is one of those wines that makes me giddy like a small child.  It hits every checkmark for me... quality, price, and sense of place. This one reminds me of my Grandfather... cigar smoke, leather, and cherry hard candies, with plenty of personality and refinement. Salud!

There is really something distinctive about the Sineann portfolio of wines.  They source from various sites in Washington and Oregon, but every wine I've tasted shares a certain delicious-ness that is all Sineann.  The Cab is sourced from some of the oldest vines in Washington, and is well layered with great structure.  At $25 a bottle I'm a fan.

Really intriguing aromatics and a plush palate feel will hook me every time... and Perrin's Vinsobres is a new go-to for me.  Anise, plum, and stoney minerality are backed up by refined tannins and vibrant acidity.  Pretty serious for the price point.

2009 Rhones have hit the shelves, and it's a crowd-pleasing vintage.  This particular bottle of CDP is really head-and-sholders above everything else I've had.  Bright Red Raspberry, cigar, anise, and plum with bright acid, and a real "WOW" factor in the mid-palate and finish.

Lip-Smacking goodness in a glass.  I'm a huge fan of Tablas, and I am incredibly pleased with their Patelin (meaning small village) new release.  The wine is not from the Tablas estate, but from local growers the folks at Tablas trust, meaning larger production lower price point wines.  I'm in.  Game on. Apricot, lemon zest, and elderflower with racy acidity and a lingering finish.

This Aloxe is really in a league of its own in terms of price point and quality.  It is remarkably intense and complex, but not with extraction or oak.  With the first swirl and sniff I recognized that this was one of those "sense of place" wines we wine nerds get all glossy-eyed about.  Try a bottle.  I dare you.  You will not be disappointed.

Varietally correct with plenty of plum, green bell pepper, and nutmeg.  No overwhelming oak, with nice structure and a pleasant finish. For Cab Franc fans this is a great go-to... and you won't break the bank getting there.

This is a steal.  100% Marsanne crafted by Chapoutier's protegee.  Pretty peach and apricot aromas, round and rich mouthfeel, and bright acidity make this perfect for the dinner table.

The seriously intense minerality of this can be a little off putting, but if you're like me and love wine that has has sense of place - Boom.  Welcome. For me, the Grand Cru Riesling is like a granny smith apple covered with linseed oil lit by a match.  Really intriguing aromatics and crisp acidity with that hallmark oily Alsatian mouth-feel. 

2009 Beaujolais has got me all wine-twitter-pated....and this is one of the most lovely examples i've had yet. Inticing aromas of jasmine, cranberry, sandlewood and leather hint at the layers of flavor on the palate. This has a gorgeous structure, with plenty of acid and well-integrated tannins. Apperently you can also age this stuff, which is awesome, assuming you have room and patience. I have to agree with spectator... this really is outstanding.

Such a killer price for Saintsbury's Brown Ranch Pinot.  2007 was a standout warm vintage for Pinot Noir, and you can really taste the bountiful harvest in this wine.  Heady aromas of cherry cola, caramel, cinnamon, and cigar.  On the palate the wine is medium to full bodied, with a pleasant roundness and enough acid for me to know that this will pair perfectly with many holiday meals. Grab a few bottles, or a case... This will not be around for long.

Absolutely Gorgeous!  If you haven't had a chance to try well aged Riesling, here's your perfect chance, and you won't break the bank doing it.  

The Biserno Estate is owned by the Piero and Lodovico Antinori family, with Michel Rolland consulting.  Quite a pedigree for this lovely Super-Tuscan with an attractive price tag.  Plenty of plump ripe fruit character with nice structure and a pleasant finish.  

In my opinion, this Prosecco is bar none, the greatest value in Sparkling wine in our portfolio right now.  Tiny bubbles, intense minerality, and just a hint of lemon/lime/apple fruit.  Nom. Nom. Nom.

This is gorgeous.  The 2008 Trilogy is really the best I've had from Flora Springs... deep rich fruit, fantastic structure, and well-integrated oak.  

Bright beautiful nose and the mouth feel was surprising in length and intensity. I've had a few of Oatley's reds and have always been impressed by the quality/price ratio. 

I stock my wine fridge with this because it's the perfect hostess wine.  When my friends and family come over, it's perfect.  It works with all kinds of food, or just on it's own.  Lots of pretty apricot/apple fruit character, great minerality, and bright crisp acidity.  And at $9, you won't even bat an eyelash when your Aunt Sue fills her glass to the brim.

This wine isn't for everyone.  In fact, the majority of you reading this review probably wouldn't even enjoy it.  For those few wine nerds that, like myself, actually get elated when you smell something rustic or "a little barnyard-y"... find a bottle, eat some lamb, and call it a day.   

I am borderline obsessed with '06 Napa Cabernet in general.  A cooler close to the growing season meant that the Cab had more hang time... ideal for structure - which I'm always hounding for.  This little gem has gorgeous aromas of just-picked berries, allspice, forest floor and anise.  Rich, ripe and round, pair this with a Petite Filet covered in a melty blue cheese... heaven.